Laundry apparatus



US- 16, 1932- o. BUTiBAcl-l 1,872,401

LAUNDRY APPARATUS `Fleanwl '31, 1928 e sheets-sheet' 1( Aug 16, 1932 o. BUTZBACH .1,872,401

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filedpeo. 51, 1928 s sne'ets-sheet 2 I \OUTLET Aug. 16, 1932.

vo. BuTzBAcH LAUNDRY APPARATUS 6 sheets-Sheet s Filed Dec. 51, 1928 Aug. 16, 19.32 Q BUTZB'ACH 1,872,401

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed D60. 5l, 1928 @Sheets-Sheet 4l wf/ZAM @www2 fg/3 Aug. 16, 1932.v o. BUTzBAcl-.l

I LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Dec. s1, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wim" O. BUTZBACH LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Dec.

' Aug. 16, 1932.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. I6, 1932 i' i UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE Application led December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,462.

My `invention relates to a laundry appa- A further object is to provide a drying apratus. -It will be' described .with particular paratus in which heated air is blown throu h reference to a machine for drying clothes.v the apparatus to dry the clothes and when tie In drying clothes by the circulation of clothes are dry, a simple adjustment causes '5 heated air therethrough, the clothes are usualair of atmospheric temperature to be drawn Y ly coninedrather compactly in a relatively through the clothes to cool them. small container in order to economize in the A further object is to provide an improved amount of heated air required to be circulated laundry machine from which the clothes may through the container. As soon as the heatbe conveniently removedwithout the necesed air passing through the clothes becomes sity of the operator reaching into the ma- .o

saturated with moisture it must be expelled chine. Y since thereafter it will no longer effect a dry- A further object is to provide a laundry ing action. machine which may be stopped in such a osi- One of the chief diiiculties encountered in tion that when the doors are opene the drying clothes is to insure that all of the air clothes will drop by their own weight from .l

passing through the -container` will come in the machine.A contact with the clothes and become saturated Av further object is ,to provide a laundry with moisture before bei expelled from'the machine having two positions of the clothes container. When only dlgortion of the air is container, in one of4 which the clothes are 2o efficiently utilized there is a waste of heat in loaded into the container, and in the other n the unsaturated air which is expelled and also l it may be unloaded. ay waste of power in conveying the larger A further object is to provide a laundry amount of heated air required to remove the machine having an improved locking device moisture from' the clothes. for locking the door-of the container. The problem involved is therefore to'ob- Other objects and advantages will appear 75 tain such adistribution of the air that the mafrom the detailed description of the apparafterials to be dried will be as uniformlyextus.

posed thereto as practical cons'derations will In accordance with the general features of permit- Apparatus has been e'viSe/d heretothe invention, a revoluble foraminated ey1in= sofore which has attempted to obtain a PIOPQI drical container is mounted in the casing and U diStlbllt-OHl-O the a1`.lgy lQOWlHg the all air is admitted axially to two. drums at the through a plurality .Ofa'fgnts 1I1Vt0 the CIOCheS- ends of the container communicating with However, experience has shown -that heretoan eccentricauymounted distributor extendfore this method proved unsansfaetory on ing longitudinally from drumm drum. The account of the accumulation of lint in certain if passes from the distributor through the 85 parte of the drying apparatus tendlng t0 1m Clothes inthe drum and out of che fommina.- pede the clrcuiatlon of au. tions in the cylinder. y It has been found that Afurther disadvantage in the use of launthis a params reduces the volume of air dry machines heretofore .usedds found in the ordinaliily required substantially one-half. w amm-1m of labor and hazard umol-ved m rel The cylinder and casing are each provided moving the clothes lfrom the machine. .th d th d thf be. 1 r

An object of my invention is to provide W1 Cors e Oo m feasmg mg af gli an improved laundry machine. enough. and locate near t efbottqm n.1 suc a position that the door of the cylinder may bl l ed d l Y A further() wet 1s to prow e a ry'mg ap be in position for loading clothes into the A paratus having a simple and e'ective means J for circulatin air through the clothes.. machine and retain them therein and in an- A further o ject is to provide a drying apother position for unloading the clothes and paratus which economically and eiiiciently allowing them to dropby gravityfrom the utilizes the air to produce a `comparatively machine. p

large drying action. f Inthe drawings, l l

u the flow of hot drying air;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly 'in section of the'apparatus of my invention;

Fix 2 is a vertical sectional view taken o the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1, arrows indicating Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view ofthe apparatiis taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a back elevation with parts broken away showin the interior of the a paratus; Fig. 5 is a orizontal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross'section taken generally on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lines 7 7 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a dia ramii'iatic view similar to Fig. 2, arrows in icating the iow of cooling air.

The apparatus comprises in general a substantially rectangular housing 11 for the fan,

heating coils, and conduits of .the apparatus, and .a casing 12 having a revoluble cylinder 13 therein and supported upon housing 11 and overhanging the housing in such a position that the axis of the cylinder is substantially-in .vertical alignment with one side of the housing.

The cylinder has a foraminated portion 15 and an imperforate portion 16. At the ends 4 of the cylinder are spaced partitions 17 and 18 which form air drums at the ends of the cylinder. The ortions of partitions 17, extending along t e imperforate portion of the' cylinder are cut away and a partition 19 exu tendingfrom drum to drumis supported by concentric rings 22 surroundin partitions 17 and the cylinder forming an eccentric channel in communication with the air' drums andextending the length of the cylinder.

iThe end partitions f18 are provided with axial openings into the drums. A longitu inal chamber 23 extends the full length of the casing and 1s connected at each end to the air drums at the ends of the cylinder by .a channel 24.

'Thus air under pressure'in chamber 23 will pass through channels 24 i-ntothe air drums at the ends of the cylinder and into the longitudinal channel assing throughthe perorations in partition 19 into the container, and throu h the clothes, leaving the cylinder through t e foraminated vportion 15. The casing is spaced from the cylinder a distance to provide a suitable annular air space around the cylinder from which the air passes into a somewhat funnel shaped chamber 25which is connected to the casing throughoutthe length of the casin Air chamber 25 ta rs at its lower end and leads into a space 26 ormed between walls 27 and 28. The space 26 may be connected either toa stack 31 leading to the atmosphere, or

" to iinintake chamber 32 for fan 37, de nding upon the position of damper 33. en

the damper is in its upper position, as shown in-Fig. 2', space 26 is in communication with' the stack, and when the damper 33 is dropped to its lower position space 26 is in communicature 34 which may be closed bya damper 35.

At the opposite end, intake chamber 32 connects through a 'tube 3'6 to thel intake of fan 37. Located in the forward part of the housing is a heating chamber 38 provided with a plu'- rality of-heatin coils or other suitable vheating elements. damper 33 is in its upper will draw atmospheric air t rough the 'heatiiig coils in housing 38 into intake chamber 32, expelling air upwardly into a channel 41. Connected to air chamber 23 is an. auxiliary .air chamber 43 provided with openings 44 and 45. The opening 44 is controlled by a damper 46 andthe opening 45 is controlled by a damper 47. Dampeijs 46 and 47 are secured-to a shaft 48 which tends to move them iii unisoiiin such a manner that when damper 46 is closed, damper 47 is open and vice versa.

Air .expelled by the fan 37 will be pre-,-

vented from entering the stack 31 when damper 47 is open and will be directed into 'the auxiliary airV chamber 43 and thence to air chamber 23 through the cylinder and cas ing, as described above, and out of the air chamber 25 into the space 26, damper. 33 beling iii its upper position at this time, the air will pass from space 26into the stack and out of the apparatus.

Damper 33 is mounted on a shaft 51 -to hen damper 35 is open and osition, the fan which a lever 52 is rigidly secured. Dain-per 35 is pivoted on a shaft- 53 to which lever 54' is rigidly attached. Levers -52 and 54 are interconnected by a link 55.. Extending upwardly from lever 52 is a link 56, the up'per end of whichfis connected to a lever 57 mounted on a shaft 61. Shaft 61 carries a lever 60 connected to a lever arml 58 rigidly secured on shaft 48 vthrough alink 59, thus interconnecting all of the dampers.- Shat'61 extends l-ongitudinallyat the back of the machine to one -end and is connected by a lever 62 secured thereon and a suitable hnk v63 to an o rating handle 64 located in convenient reac of the operator.

In order to dry the clothes placed in the w cylinder, handle 64 is actuated to raise damper 33, lower damper 35, close damper 46,

and open damper 47 VThe fan will then blowv served to close damper 47, thus connecting the dropped to connect air cham r 32 with the air chamber 35, causing the fan to draw' the air from chamber 35.`

, Actuation of the operating handle has also discharge end of the fan to the stack and' opening damper 46 so that the auxiliary air. chamber 43 will be in communication with the atmosphere, permittingthe fan to .draw atmospheric air into the opening 44 through the cylinder andscasing and expel it through the stack. During'the blowin of the heated air through the apparatus, t ere is a teni, y dency for lint to accumulate in the apparatus which tends tof disturb the passage of a1r. However, the suction of the fan duringl the 1 cooling process removes all of the accumulated lint and discharges it from the stack vof the apparatus.

Casing 12 1s provided with a door 71 which may comprise substantially one-fourth of the peripheral length of the cylinder. Door 71 is slidablf mounted in grooves 72 located at lthe en s of the casing and the lower portion o'the casing is provided with a groove 73 into the wh1ch the lower edge ofi'the door rests when the door is closed. In order to provide a convenient apparatus for opening .the door, a motor 74 is mounted at one end upon the casing. The door is provided at i each end with gear sectors 75 meshing with gears 76 which are rotated by gears 77 mounted upon a shaft 78. The gears 76 are carried by arms 81 pivotally mounted upon aw shaft 78. When the motor is energized it willv rotate shaft 7 8 and gears 77 and .also gears 76, causing the door to be raised. When theY door has been raised to a certain position, cams 82 located at the ends of gear sectors75 will strike arm 81 tending to disengage gears 76 from gear sectors 75 by pivoting arms 81 about their pivot. The end of arms 81 are provided with springs 83 adapted to engage notches in detents 84 so that when the gears 76 are disengaged from gear sectors 75 arms 81 will tend to maintain the gears out of engagement.

be lowered by the hand, for which purpose suitable grips 88 are provided on the door. The upper end of gear sectors 7 5; are provided withgsuitable cam surfaces which engage arms 81 when the door reaches its lowermost position, tending to. reengage gears 76 with the gear sectors 7 5, the motor having been stopped in the meantime.

The cylinder may be divided into one, two,

or more compartmentsby a partition 91, and

"cylinder of'ribs 95 which assist in tumblin the clothes v` within the cylinder when the cy inder is rotated. These -ribs extend longitudinally the full length of the cylinder.` The base of one of the ribs 95 is openvand is provided at one side with a longitudinal liange 96 and the upper end. of each of the doors is. provided with a hook portion 97 adapted to overlap flange 96 when the doors are closed, `thus providing a complete supportor the entire periphery of each of the doors when in their closed position. Doors 92 are provided with suitable -handles 98 by which the doors may be o ened. In order to secure the doors of the cy inder against openin while the apparatus is in operation, a p urality of blocks 101 are mounted in the hollow space of rib 95. Each of these blocks has a latch 102 pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to extend over the hooks 97 to lock the doors in their closed sition. The latches are all interconnected y a bar 103. On one of the blocks 102 a lever l104 provided with a handle 105 is pivotally mounted. Lever 104 has avvgroove 4106 therein into which a pin 107 of the adjacent latch 102 extends.

By rotating lever 104 to the dottedline osition as shown in Fig. 5, latches 102 will he rotated to such a position as to free the hooks 97 and allow the doors to be opened.

It will\be seen that when the latches-are in this position the lever will be within thev periphery of the cylinder so that'the door ma be moved upwardly by the rib.

' 151,1 loading clothes or other materials to be dried into the apparatus door 71 of casing is iirst opened and then the doors to the cyltime oscillating toand fro approximately 7 or 8 revolutions in .one direction and then 7 or 8 revolutions in the opposite direction `to prevent tangling and tearing of the clothes. After the clothes have been dried, the door tothe casing is opened and-the doors to the are opened. The cylinder may then be moved'to su'ch a position that the lower edge of the o enin into the cylinder is. in alignment wit the ower edtgxe of thecasing door. 'In this position of e cylinder the upper edge upon shaft 48 by unscrewing a set screw 113v so that damper 46 may remain closed while damper 33 is in its lower position, damper 35 'in its upper position and damper 47 is closed. The air then is drawn through the cylinder and casing through intake chamber 35 and into the fan and expelled from the fan intoy the stack. Drawing the airout of the casing and cylinder creates a low pressure in the air chamber 23, and since this is closed over the heatin except for opening 111, air will be drawn coils into chamber 23. Having thus ascribed the' nature and embodiments of my invention, what I desire to secure by United States LettersvPatent' is as follows:

1. In a drylng apparatus, a fan, an exhaust stack, a cylinder, a casing encloslng the cylinder, means operable to cause sa1d fan to discharge either into the stack or into the cylinder, an intake chamber for the fan, a heating chamber, -and means for connecting said intake chamber either to the heating chamber or to the casing to withdraw air therefrom.d h f 2. n a r in a aratus,a ollow r orated cylindznga gelifrated channel gdcentrically located in the cylinder and extending longitudinally thereof, the perforations l in said channel being adapted to direct air inwardly from the periphery ofthe cylinder,

a drum having an axial opening positioned at the end of the cylinder and communicating with the channel, a fan, an exhaust stack, means operable to cause the fan to discharge either into the exhaust stack or into the axial,

opening in the cylinder drum, a` casing enclosing the cylinder, an outletchamber communicating with the casing, an intake chamber for the fan, a heating chamber, and means operable to connect the intake chamber of the fan with thev heating chamber or with the outlet chamber o'f the casing.

3. In a drying apparatus, a hollow perforated cylinder, a perforated channel eccentrically locatedI in thecylinder and extending longitudinally thereof,V the perforations ,in said channel being adapted to direct air inwardly from the periphery of thecylinder, a drum having an axial opening positioned at the end of the cylinder and communicating with the'channel, a fan, an exhaust stack, means-operable to cause the fanto discharge ing, a

either` into the exhaust stack or into'the axial openmg in the cylinder drum, a casing enc osing the cylin er, an outlet chamber communicating with the casing, an intake cham-4 ber for the fan, a heatin chamber, and means connecting the intake camber of the fan to the heating chamber when the fan is dis- Achargin into axial openin of the cylinder and to t e outlet chamber o' the casing when 'the fan is discharging into the stack.

4. In an apparatus for laundering clothes, a support, a casing mounted upon the support at a suiiicient height to .allow a truck to be moved under the casing from'the front of the machine and overhanging the support, said casing having an 'opening inthe overhanging portion of the casing, and a cylinder revolub e in the casing-and having an opening therein, said openingsv being provided with closures, the opening in the cylinder being adapted t be moved to a position relative to the opening in'the casing to permit clothes to fall out of said openings by gravity when the closures are ope 5. :In a laundering apparatus, a cylinder having an opening therein, a hollow rib extending into the cylinder and located along an edge of the opening, a plurality of grooves along the sides of the opening, a door slidably mounted in said grooves and adapted to move over said rib when lbeing opened, a latch in said rib, andrmeans for operating said latch to lock the door in its closed position. v Y

6. In a laundering apparatus, a cylinder having an opening therein, a plurality of groovesv on three sides of said,- opening, ahol`v low rib extending into the cylinder on the remaining side of the opening, a door slidable in the grooves, -a liange in the rib, a hookshaped edge on the door adapted to engage sai flange when the door is closed, a plural,- ity of latches for retaining said hooked portion in engagement'with the flange to lock the door, and means operable to disengage the latches to unlock the door. l

7. In a launderingapparatua-a cylinder having an opening therein, a hollow rib extending into the cylinder and located along an edge of the opening, a door for said opening, a plurality of latches movably mountedl in said rib for locking the door` a bar interconnecting the latches, and means for mov'- ing the bar to operate the latches. 8. In a laundering apparatus, a cylinder having an opening therein, a hollow rib along an edge of the opening, a door for the openlurality of latches for locking the door, a ar for interconnecting the latches to lock and unlock the door, and a lever for operating the bar, said lever being within therib when the door is-locked or unlocked.

9. A laundry dryer comprising a casing having an o-set cylindrical portion with an `opening thereintaclosure for said opening,l

a. rotary clothes container having an opening mounted within said oil-set portion, a closure for said opening, the opening in said off-set portion arranged to permit clothes 'in the clothes container to drop by gravity through z both openings when said openings are aligned. 10. A laundry dryer comprising a casing having an off-set cylindrical portion, and a cylinder having a side opening therein rotatably carried within said cylindrical portion, the cylinder over-hanging the casing along the oil-set sidethereof, v said casing having an opening in the off-set portion, both .of said openings being provided with closures, the opening in the cylinder being adapted to be moved to a position relative to the opening in the casing to permit clothes to fall outside of the casing by gravity when the closures are opened.

11. In an apparatus for laundering clothes, an oif-set support, a casing mounted upon the support and over-hanging on one side, said casing having an opening in the overhanging portion,.a closure for said opening, said able clothes container stationed in front of opening being so arranged to be above a movthe machine, and a cylinder revoluble in said casing and having a clothes opening therein, said cylinder revoluble so that the opening therein registers with the opening in the casing to allow clothesto fall through said openings` into the movable container.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of December, 1928.

OTTO BUTzBAoH. 

